Money For Community Colleges Becomes Obstacle To Budget

Equalizing Funding Would Help Central Florida Schools. But Legislators Are Divided.

April 23, 1997|By Joni James of The Sentinel Staff

A proposal that would pump $7.2 million more into Central Florida's community colleges is one of the key points holding up the Legislature's budget talks.

Leaders of the Senate's budget committees have said they won't sign off on a House proposal to spend $18.8 million to improve funding at 14 community colleges that traditionally have received less money per student than the state's 14 other colleges.

''It's the kind of issue that is splitting membership (in both chambers) down the middle,'' said Rep. Bill Sublette, R-Orlando, chairman of the House Education Budget Committee.

''Those whose colleges would benefit are all for it,'' he said. ''Those who don't get anything, aren't.''

Both House Speaker Daniel Webster and Senate President Toni Jennings have said they support equalization, indicating the proposal will remain alive for now.

The region that would benefit most under the House plan is Central Florida, where fast-growing community colleges have long received less per student than the state average.

If the equalization plan is approved, the state would add about $7.2 million to Central Florida's community college budgets, giving $3.5 million to Valencia Community College; $2.5 million to Daytona Beach; $1 million to Seminole; and $151,000 to Lake-Sumter.

The remaining $11.6 million would be divided among 10 other community colleges: Broward, Central Florida, Edison, Gulf Coast, Indian River, Palm Beach, St. Johns River, South Florida, Tallahassee and Florida Junior College in Jacksonville.

Two years ago, the state tried to equalize per-student funding at community colleges by spending $26 million. But the money had little impact. Enrollment at colleges that were historically underfunded - such as those in Central Florida - continued to grow faster than their better-funded counterparts.